(FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES) - David Letterman is working on a deal with the striking Writers Guild of America that would allow his late-night CBS show to begin broadcasting again using content penned by his usual team of scribes, his production company, World Wide Pants, said on Saturday (Dec. 15). According to the New York Times, a World Wide Pants spokesperson said that an interim deal with writers may come as soon as next week, which could put The Late Show with David Letterman back on the air next month. The deal would also put The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson — also produced by World Wide Pants — back in production. It is expected that a potential interim deal would commit World Wide Pants to whatever terms are finally agreed to in the contract talks between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Pictures & Television Producers.

All late-night shows have shut down since the strike started six weeks ago. NBC’s Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien are expected to announce next week that their late-night shows will return to the air in early January. Likewise, Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central’s Daily Show, is reportedly trying to work out an interim deal with writers that will get his show back into production.

A CBS spokesperson said the network respects Letterman?s attempt to secure the interim agreement but that CBS remains unified with the producers in their negotiations with the WGA. (New York Times)